OPB Signs Eugene Lease; Group Fights Reintroduction of Previously Banned Chemical; FRAA Holds Literary Salon; Port to Review Erosion; Ups and Downs of Fuel

OPB Signs Eugene Lease

Oregon Pacific bank has announced that it has signed a lease for a new branch in Eugene.  The new offices will need a remodel and that according to OPB’s press release is in the planning stages.  The bank has signed Rowell Brokaw Architects to redesign the interior space and OPB President and CEO Ron Green says the design will be one that meets and exceeds the customer’s needs as well as being a space that is aesthetically pleasing.  Green also says that the new office will be able to provide services that the current location is unable to provide including designated parking spaces for clients, a drive-up lane, drive-up deposit taking ATM, and a night depository.

Group Fights Reintroduction of Previously Banned Chemical

Currently in Lane county there is a push to limit certain types of pesticides and the form in which they are delivered.  The issue being that environmental groups say that the lifting of a ban of a dangerous chemical is endangering our citizens and our food.  On Monday, labor, civil rights, and health groups challenged the EPA’s decision to not ban chlorpyrifos after former EPA chief Scott Pruitt said the pesticides dangers were unresolved.  Attorney Patti Goldman is with Earthjustice, which is representing the groups in this lawsuit. She disputes the agency’s claim that the science isn’t clear, saying there is a large body of evidence that the pesticide is dangerous, especially for children.

201:  “What’s emerged in the last 20 years is incredibly solid evidence that this pesticide damages children’s brains at very low exposures. Things like reduced IQ, autism, attention deficit disorder. Every parent’s fear.”

 Goldman says Earthjustice is presenting arguments on behalf of farmworker groups nationwide, including Oregon farm workers union PCUN, whose members have felt the effects of chlorpyrifos in the fields.  She says many farm workers get triple the exposure to this pesticide. It’s on the foods they eat and in the air and water where they live. The pesticide has been banned from home use for about two decades because of its dangerous effects. It’s used on various crops, including apples, oranges and broccoli.

FRAA Holds Literary Salon

The Florence Regional Arts Alliance has announced its next Literary Salon day for Saturday.  The event will commemorate works by Anthony Bourdain, Tom Wolfe, and Phillip Roth.  The event will be held at the FRAA building on Maple Street in Old Town from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  Writers of all levels can also sign up to perform excerpts from published and unpublished original material.

Port to Review Erosion

The Port of Siuslaw will hold a work session and a public meeting on Wednesday July 18th.  Commissioners are expected to give an update on the C Row erosion in the work session.  The complete agenda for the meeting has not been determined but will be posted on the Port of Siuslaw website 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Ups and Downs of Fuel

Fuel prices continue to bounce up and down around the state.  Florence has seen a 4 cent a gallon increase on the average over the last 10 days and currently sits at $3.09 a gallon on average.  Marie Dodds with AAA Oregon says that high demand and higher crude oil prices are the culprits.  And that the rest of the summer should see prices inch up with no huge surges expected.